clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Rahman, Rogan, Sprott, Meehan, Peter set for June 4 heavyweight tournament

A group of veteran heavyweights are set for action on June 4, in a one-night heavyweight tournament in New Zealand.

Oliver Hardt
Scott Christ is the managing editor of Bad Left Hook and has been covering boxing for SB Nation since 2006.

A group of veteran heavyweights are set to come together for a one-night, eight-man tournament on June 4 in New Zealand, headlined so far by the latest addition to the field, former world heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman. Rahman joins a list including Kali Meehan, Samuel Peter, Michael Sprott, and Martin Rogan, with three spots remaining to be filled for the "Super 8."

Let's take a look at the field as it currently stands:

  • Rahman (50-8-2, 41 KO) is 41 years old and hasn't fought since an embarrassing TKO-2 loss to Alexander Povetkin in September 2012, a fight for which the WBA should still be seriously ashamed, as they made it happen by appointing Rahman mandatory challenger for absolutely no reason. He's been grossly out of shape in his recent fights, none of which were that recent.
  • Rogan (16-5, 8 KO) will be 43 when the tournament happens, and was knocked out in 1:25 by prospect Erkan Teper in November, which was his last bout. He's a former Prizefighter sensation and a lovable guy.
  • Peter (34-5, 27 KO) is the youngest of the field at 33, but he hasn't fought since 2011, when he was knocked out by Robert Helenius, his second straight KO defeat. Peter hasn't won a fight since 2010.
  • Meehan (38-5, 31 KO) is 44 and hasn't fought since March 2012, when he was stopped in six by Travis Walker.
  • Sprott (40-21, 17 KO), 39, is actually doing fairly well, as it were, having won a Prizefighter tournament last November. The format may well suit him. Prior to that he'd lost six of seven, but against mostly high-level competition, and one of the losses was a BS stoppage against Edmund Gerber, which Sprott avenged by decision in a rematch.

Now, obviously, this is not some high class production, really. But in the grand scheme of things, this isn't such a bad lineup or idea, if only because they're all fighting each other and not being trotted out to get smashed by relevant fighters.

Hopeful final three picks: Oleg Maskaev, Michael Grant, and of course, David Tua.

Sign up for the newsletter Sign up for the Bad Left Hook Daily Roundup newsletter!

A daily roundup of all your global boxing news from Bad Left Hook